LOS ANGELES — Nobody at USC will say if the school truly wanted to schedule Fresno State for Saturday's nonconference football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

But this is clear: The Trojans looked elsewhere before signing the contract.

"There weren't a lot of alternatives," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "It's hard to find someone who will play us; the list is very short. But Fresno was more than willing. They always have been."

Matt Leinart, the Trojans' Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, blended a bit of ****iness and indifference when asked about the matchup against the No. 16 Bulldogs.

"We don't care who we play, if it's a Pac-10 team, Fresno, Notre Dame or whoever," said the senior, who has led USC to 32 straight victories, including a 10-0 mark this year. "We say it all of the time, and maybe people think we're blowing smoke, but we really don't worry about who we play. It's all about how we play. We think we can only beat ourselves."

It's a ****e in self-esteem for a program that last lost 34-31 on Sept. 27, 2003 in triple overtime at Cal — and since has captured two national titles.

Bringing arguably the Bulldogs' best team to Los Angeles for a nonconference game in November was crafted out of necessity for the Trojans. There were three reasons:

A few years ago, the plan was for USC to play Temple on Sept. 10 of this season. But that never came to fruition.

Filling that date would have left the Trojans with a three-week gap between a Nov. 12 game at Cal and a Dec. 3 home contest with UCLA to close the regular season. Carroll chose not to have such a long layoff: "That's for bowl games."

Fresno State, which long had been seeking a game with USC, was readily available. And, if anybody else was, the Trojans aren't saying.

USC associate athletic director Steve Lopes and former Fresno State athletic director Scott Johnson agreed in February to a deal that will guarantee Fresno State $500,000, minus traveling expenses.

Johnson, who retired one week later, said the deal was sealed not two months after Trojans senior associate athletic director Daryl Gross was named athletic director at Syracuse.

"Initially, my conversations started with Daryl," Johnson said. "But it got bogged down when he got the Syracuse job. Finally, I got hooked up with Steve, and he and I actually hammered it out fairly quickly. Who knows if he had exhausted other possibilities, was OK with the matchup or what. But he was very good to work with."

Lopes didn't respond to interview requests by The Bee.

Carroll said he approved the game, and he's not apologizing for it, not for what he labels the national game of the week.

"What other game has two teams with a [combined] 18-1 record?" he said. "Maybe people around the country don't realize how good a matchup this is, but I think it's going to be a terrific game. I think it's an extraordinary opportunity for both teams to play at a really high level late in the year. And it's necessary for us to have these kind of matchups to finish on a high note."

Carroll said he's not worried about having to sell the ability of Fresno State to his players after they've reviewed film of the 8-1 Bulldogs.

"I don't have any concern about that at all," he said. "It's very clear they're a loaded football team, they have a winning background, they're a championship team, they've got senior leadership and they've got special players at all the key spots.

"We have to be ready for everything. To think any other way, I think is a mistake. To play a championship-caliber team at this time of year is exactly what we need, and we relish the opportunity because it brings out the best in us."

still taking bets rasta?

still taking bets rasta?
\

you know it

\

you know it
I will take USC for 10 mil ......straight up right?

yep, you got it man

yep, you got it man
K.......good luck.

LOS ANGELES — Nobody at USC will say if the school truly wanted to schedule Fresno State for Saturday's nonconference football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

But this is clear: The Trojans looked elsewhere before signing the contract.

"There weren't a lot of alternatives," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "It's hard to find someone who will play us; the list is very short. But Fresno was more than willing. They always have been."

Matt Leinart, the Trojans' Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, blended a bit of ****iness and indifference when asked about the matchup against the No. 16 Bulldogs.

"We don't care who we play, if it's a Pac-10 team, Fresno, Notre Dame or whoever," said the senior, who has led USC to 32 straight victories, including a 10-0 mark this year. "We say it all of the time, and maybe people think we're blowing smoke, but we really don't worry about who we play. It's all about how we play. We think we can only beat ourselves."

It's a ****e in self-esteem for a program that last lost 34-31 on Sept. 27, 2003 in triple overtime at Cal — and since has captured two national titles.

Bringing arguably the Bulldogs' best team to Los Angeles for a nonconference game in November was crafted out of necessity for the Trojans. There were three reasons:

A few years ago, the plan was for USC to play Temple on Sept. 10 of this season. But that never came to fruition.

Filling that date would have left the Trojans with a three-week gap between a Nov. 12 game at Cal and a Dec. 3 home contest with UCLA to close the regular season. Carroll chose not to have such a long layoff: "That's for bowl games."

Fresno State, which long had been seeking a game with USC, was readily available. And, if anybody else was, the Trojans aren't saying.

USC associate athletic director Steve Lopes and former Fresno State athletic director Scott Johnson agreed in February to a deal that will guarantee Fresno State $500,000, minus traveling expenses.

Johnson, who retired one week later, said the deal was sealed not two months after Trojans senior associate athletic director Daryl Gross was named athletic director at Syracuse.

"Initially, my conversations started with Daryl," Johnson said. "But it got bogged down when he got the Syracuse job. Finally, I got hooked up with Steve, and he and I actually hammered it out fairly quickly. Who knows if he had exhausted other possibilities, was OK with the matchup or what. But he was very good to work with."

Lopes didn't respond to interview requests by The Bee.

Carroll said he approved the game, and he's not apologizing for it, not for what he labels the national game of the week.

"What other game has two teams with a [combined] 18-1 record?" he said. "Maybe people around the country don't realize how good a matchup this is, but I think it's going to be a terrific game. I think it's an extraordinary opportunity for both teams to play at a really high level late in the year. And it's necessary for us to have these kind of matchups to finish on a high note."

Carroll said he's not worried about having to sell the ability of Fresno State to his players after they've reviewed film of the 8-1 Bulldogs.

"I don't have any concern about that at all," he said. "It's very clear they're a loaded football team, they have a winning background, they're a championship team, they've got senior leadership and they've got special players at all the key spots.

"We have to be ready for everything. To think any other way, I think is a mistake. To play a championship-caliber team at this time of year is exactly what we need, and we relish the opportunity because it brings out the best in us."


id put ten mill on that as well...if your still taking bets
no prob if you not, just figured i throw that out there

Rasta, we have a 150 million point bet bro, I would like to increase that bet to 250 million. I need a response of course. :cool:

done and done both of you

USC needs to win out cause I dont want any excuses from anyone when Texas kicks their ass in the Rose Bowl!

USC needs to win out cause I dont want any excuses from anyone when Texas kicks their ass in the Rose Bowl!


...At the start of the year I would have laughed at that comment. Texas is the real deal and we could have a national championship for the ages if they both make it.

...At the start of the year I would have laughed at that comment. Texas is the real deal and we could have a national championship for the ages if they both make it.



HE PBDS, whats up with the title man, it was Mike huh

HE PBDS, whats up with the title man, it was Mike huh


...Yep, I didn't think it was bad enough to waste the points on though. :)

...At the start of the year I would have laughed at that comment. Texas is the real deal and we could have a national championship for the ages if they both make it.

It's a new year! USC had their time now its ours. I PRAY USC wins out! I want UT to be the one to snap that streak, and do it in the MNC. Also, if Vince doesn't win the heisman its a damn shame.

It's a new year! USC had their time now its ours. I PRAY USC wins out! I want UT to be the one to snap that streak, and do it in the MNC. Also, if Vince doesn't win the heisman its a damn shame.


...If you have been around you have probably seen me say this before, but here goes. I'm a huge Ohio State fan, and when we lost to Texas a bunch of our assistant coaches said that Texas is the fastest and most talented team they have played since Miami in the National Championship years ago.

because they didnt play fresno state

...If you have been around you have probably seen me say this before, but here goes. I'm a huge Ohio State fan, and when we lost to Texas a bunch of our assistant coaches said that Texas is the fastest and most talented team they have played since Miami in the National Championship years ago.

Thats what the Mangino (Kansas coach) said on Saturday after they got waxed.

"I don't think I've ever been on a field where I have seen so many big, strong, fast, talented kids," said Mangino, who called Young "phenomenal."

Thats what the Mangino (Kansas coach) said on Saturday after they got waxed.

"I don't think I've ever been on a field where I have seen so many big, strong, fast, talented kids," said Mangino, who called Young "phenomenal."


...He was glad to get out of that Ohio State game in one piece. Our linebackers knocked the **** out of him to the point where I thought he couldn't go on. He is tough too.

Fresno State moves from the biggest game of the year in the WAC to maybe the biggest game of the week in the nation.

The 16th-ranked Bulldogs (8-1, 6-0) take their shot at top-ranked USC on Saturday in Los Angeles.
The Bulldogs beat Boise State 27-7 last week, ending the Broncos' 31-game WAC winning streak and taking control of the WAC title race.

Fresno State wideout Adam Jennings says the Bulldogs see the Trojans for what they are -- a great college football team -- rather than for what they're hyped to be -- invincible.

"In the film room, you're not looking at names," Jennings told the Fresno Bee. "They don't look superhuman. You get to see the bad plays, the stuff not on 'SportsCenter.' You see mistakes, and you have to figure out ways to exploit their weaknesses. It starts by seeing them as just another opponent and not as this invincible team."

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Bulldogs lead the WAC in scoring at 40.2 points per game because they are a complete team. Quarterback Paul Pinegar is having his best year, tailback Wendell Mathis is a force and the defense and special teams put the offense in good positions. The Bulldogs also have committed just 10 turnovers this season, six fewer than any other team in the WAC.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Bulldogs might give up some big plays and some yards -- although they lead the WAC in total defense -- but what they don't give up is points. Fresno State leads the WAC in scoring defense at just 14.8 points per game. Opponents have reached the red zone just 19 times, and scored nine touchdowns on those drives.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's not about the hype. It's about the preparation, and our team is preparing for this game very, very hard." -- Fresno State coach Pat Hill

done and done both of you

done for me??
i noticed i wasnt in your sig so i was just checkin

THIS WEEK'S GAME: Fresno State at USC, Nov. 19 -- The Bulldogs long have wanted a shot at the Trojans, and now they get it. The Bulldogs' only loss this season was by three points at Oregon in September, so don't be surprised if they hang with the Trojans -- at least for a while.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Paul Pinegar -- He showed how much he has grown in his career last week by beating Boise State, the team that owned him for three years. He leads the WAC in pass efficiency with 18 touchdowns and just five picks.
WR Paul Williams -- The supremely talented wideout made 12 catches for 286 yards combined in the past two games.

DL Garrett McIntyre -- He was named the WAC's defensive player of the week after recording two sacks last week.

CB Rich Marshall -- He has six pass breakups and three interceptions this season.

Fresno State moves from the biggest game of the year in the WAC to maybe the biggest game of the week in the nation.

The 16th-ranked Bulldogs (8-1, 6-0) take their shot at top-ranked USC on Saturday in Los Angeles.
The Bulldogs beat Boise State 27-7 last week, ending the Broncos' 31-game WAC winning streak and taking control of the WAC title race.

Fresno State wideout Adam Jennings says the Bulldogs see the Trojans for what they are -- a great college football team -- rather than for what they're hyped to be -- invincible.

"In the film room, you're not looking at names," Jennings told the Fresno Bee. "They don't look superhuman. You get to see the bad plays, the stuff not on 'SportsCenter.' You see mistakes, and you have to figure out ways to exploit their weaknesses. It starts by seeing them as just another opponent and not as this invincible team."



...Not to piss on your cornflakes bro, but you do realize that they are underdogs by over two touchdowns right?

...Not to piss on your cornflakes bro, but you do realize that they are underdogs by over two touchdowns right?


Odds dont mean shyt

THIS WEEK'S GAME: Fresno State at USC, Nov. 19 -- The Bulldogs long have wanted a shot at the Trojans, and now they get it. The Bulldogs' only loss this season was by three points at Oregon in September, so don't be surprised if they hang with the Trojans -- at least for a while.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Paul Pinegar -- He showed how much he has grown in his career last week by beating Boise State, the team that owned him for three years. He leads the WAC in pass efficiency with 18 touchdowns and just five picks.
WR Paul Williams -- The supremely talented wideout made 12 catches for 286 yards combined in the past two games.

DL Garrett McIntyre -- He was named the WAC's defensive player of the week after recording two sacks last week.

CB Rich Marshall -- He has six pass breakups and three interceptions this season.

if you win these bets, your going to be so rich...damn

Bump^^^^^^^^^